Molecular aspects of human lipid metabolism

Abstract

The postprandial lipaemic response refers to the changes in lipid and lipoprotein concentrations after consumption of a meal containing more than 15g of long-chain fatty acids. The magnitude and duration of the response have been shown to reflect the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The postprandial triacylglyceride (TAG) response, which is indicative of postprandial lipaemia, is a quantitative trait since the magnitude and duration of the response are related to an individual's genotype and environment. Such environmental factors include, gender, weight, age, fasting lipid concentrations, exercise, alcohol consumption, background diet and the meal consumed to cause the response. This thesis set out to investigate some of the genetic and dietary factors involved in modulating the postprandial TAG response.